Germany Takes Comfortable Lead in Team Competition at 2026 World Championships Dressage

-- CHIO Aachen / FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage
(a full "Eurodressage report" about the team competition will come up on Wednesday/Thursday as the long day schedule does not give me enough time to write it as well as prepare a huge photo gallery)

The first day of competition at the 2026 World Championships Dressage saw 45 combinations travel down the centerline of a beautiful decorated dressage arena in the impressive main stadium of the hallowed CHIO Aachen show ground. A sunny day with 28 ° C temperatures and a nice breeze brought perfect weather conditions for the first part of the team competition, which is contested by the Grand Prix.

With 91 riders competing in these World Championships the class has been split into two and seven judges - 

Comfortable Lead for Germany

Home team Germany took a comfortable lead in the nations' ranking as its two riders captured places one and three in the provisional ranking after group 1. The high score of the day was 75.963% achieved by Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth, while fourth team rider Raphael Netz posted 73.338 on Great Escape Camelot.

"It is simply fantastic to be here," Raphael Netz said after his successful World Championship debut – a sentiment many of his fellow competitors probably shared. The 27-year-old was the first rider to enter the arena for Team Germany – a task carrying significant weight. "I was aware of the responsibility," Netz said. "But I tried not to let it affect me too much." He didn't entirely succeed in that, however: Having had to skip the traditional power nap he usually takes before important tests. "I couldn't get a wink of sleep." However, by the time he rode into the Main Stadium, his focus was crystal clear. The famous butterflies in his stomach played their part, too. "Camelot seemed to grow even taller," Netz reported. He self-critically put the minor mistake in the one-tempi changes down to a rider error. 

His score was eventually topped by his own teammate: Frederic Wandres. German team trainer Monica Theodorescu, described Wandres' ride as "one of his best, if not the best Grand Prix ever." After the final salute, a score of 75.963 percent lit up the impressive scoreboard – and a huge weight visibly lifted from the rider's shoulders. "A huge burden dropped to the floor and is now lying somewhere near the letter B," Wandres joked shortly afterwards.

The tension was tangible among those close to the rider as well: His partner, Lars Ligus, who is supporting him in the role as groom in Aachen, watched his heart rate hit 152 during the test according to his fitness tracker. The relief following the performance was immense – for the rider, for the team and for the crowd alike. 

Great Britain Follows

There are two ways of looking at the provisional team ranking depending on how you calculate the provisional team standing. In the last few years the official scoring office (Equestrian Hub, here in Aachen Longines Timing) is using a new system of calculating this provisional ranking: i.e. only considering one result and automatically assuming that the second score achieved today is the automatic drop score. In the past the provisional team ranking was always calculated by totalling the two scores achieved on day one and consider both results as counting (so only one day 2 the drop score would be decided). Eurodressage prefers the old way....

Germany's biggest rivals for team gold - Great Britain - are currently standing in a provisional second place as their star rider, Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, had a few atypical errors and scoring 73.820%. The rider kept a brave face while leaving the arena but felt devastated once out of the stadium. 

"That isn't the result I wanted to deliver for my team," the 46-year-old said after her mistake-riddled test. She explained that her 12-year-old KWPN gelding had lost his focus in the vast stadium. "I hope my teammates do better," said Moody, who nevertheless managed to squeeze into second place, in between the two Germans.

Fiona Bigwood rode her home-bred Donna Bella to 69.348%.

Denmark Solid

If you add up the scores of the two riders that went today, it is in fact Team Denmark that stands second in the provisional team ranking. 

A favourably scored Nadja Aaboe Sloth (DEN) on Favour Gersdorf and team "come back kid" Carina Cassøe Krüth (DEN) with Heiline’s Danciera brought Denmark’s total to 144.130%. 

Sloth (DEN) was the first of her team to enter the arena on Favour Gersdorf and with super steady piaffe work and an uphill frame, they scored 71.956%.

“It was a shame about the mistake in the one-time changes. We need to practise those ahead of the Grand Prix Special. But I would like to carry the good, smooth feeling we had, particularly in the first part, into Friday,” said Sloth.

Carina Cassøe Krüth (DEN) and her Tokyo Olympic team horse Heiline’s Danciera followed with 72.174%.

Stand-Out Rides

Sweden currently occupies fourth place in the team standings with 141.087%, followed by Portugal in fifth on 140.078% and Australia in sixth on 139.658%.

Currently lying in fourth and fifth place in the individual ranking are two riders with championship experience, who are making a name for themselves in Aachen with aspiring young horses.

Australian Simone Pearce presented the 10-year-old Spanish sport horse bred Will Marq, a horse with impressive movement that executed the required exercises with remarkable maturity and was rewarded with a score of 72.391%. "I am overjoyed and simply thrilled at how well he focused on me. This was only his sixth Grand Prix ever," the 35-year-old beamed, mentioning the "family success" involved: Will Marq was discovered in Spain and is now owned by her partner, the Swiss rider, Martin Fuchs. "This was what I had hoped for, but given our limited experience together, I had expected a few more hiccups in the test. But Will was super. He is such a positive horse.”

Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen was equally pleased with the 10-year old Hanoverian bred Navarro (by Negro) as she achieved a score of 72.376%.

The 21-year-old Austrian rider Felicita Simoncic was the first rider of the day to crack the 70% barrier with 70.730% (10th). Only a senior rider since 10 months she achieved a personal best in her World Championship debut aboard her KWPN stallion. Her genuine, pure joy was infectious, illustrating just what this championship means to the athletes.

“He really showed himself at his best in the arena. He was behaving very much like a stallion in the warm-up, so I am really pleased that everything came together in the arena," said Felicita.

Team medals to be decided tomorrow

The Grand Prix team competition continues tomorrow from 08:20, with the final athlete scheduled to enter the arena at 17:50. With many of the world’s leading combinations still to come, the pressure will remain high throughout the second and decisive day of team competition. Once the Grand Prix team competition has concluded, the team medals will be awarded and the 30 individual combinations qualifying for the Grand Prix Special will be confirmed.

-- Photos © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 World Championships Dressage
Scores: 2026 World Championships Dressage